It prohibits any statewide ballot initiative, legislative referral, or local ballot measure from excluding or including any county, city or other local jurisdiction from being governed by the results of the vote on the measure based on how voters in a particular area voted. For example, under Proposition 219, if a majority of voters in a county voted "no" on a statewide proposition that was approved based on its statewide vote, the proposition still applies to them.

It establishes that statewide initiative, legislative measure, or local ballot measure cannot contain language which enables alternative or cumulative provisions of the measure to become law based upon a specified percentage of votes being cast for or against the measure.

Text of measure

Title

Summary

Prohibits any statewide initiative, legislative measure, or local ballot measure from excluding or including any county, city or other local jurisdiction from its application based upon voter approval or the casting of a specified percentage of votes for or against the measure within that political subdivision.

Provides that no statewide initiative, legislative measure, or local ballot measure can contain language which enables alternative or cumulative provisions of the measure to become law based upon a specified percentage of votes being cast for or against the measure.

Background

In addition to voting for candidates for office, Californians vote on a variety of state and local measures--initiatives, referenda, constitutional amendments, bonds, and revisions to local charters. These measures are put before the voters by the state Legislature, local governing bodies (such as city councils and county boards of supervisors), and by individual citizens or groups seeking to change the law.

In most cases, these ballot measures apply to all areas within the state or a local community in the same way. For example, if a statewide measure passes, it applies to all counties in the same way, regardless of whether a majority of voters in any individual county approved the measure. One recent measure, however, was different (Proposition 172 on the November 1993 ballot). The measure, which enacted a statewide sales tax increase, provided that the revenues from the tax increase would go only to those counties that voted in favor of the measure. (Absent this vote the county could still receive the funds if the board of supervisors voted to request an allocation.) As a result, some people who otherwise would have voted "no" may have voted "yes" to ensure that their county received some of the money.

In addition, most ballot measures identify a specific policy that would be adopted if the measure passes. A recent local measure, however, contained an unusual provision. It stated that: If the measure were approved by a majority of voters, a tax for general purposes would be enacted.If, however, two-thirds of the voters approved the measure, a tax for special purposes would be enacted. Thus, a "yes" vote could mean two different things.